Improved spring-bottom for beds, chairs



UNITED STATES GEORGE IV. GRIS OLD, OF ABINGTON, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO A. C.

PATENT OFFICE.

SISSON, OF SAME PLACE.

`HVH'ROVED SPRING-BOTTOM FOR BEDS, CHAIRS, 81,0.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent No. 33,622, dated October 29, 1861.

.To a/ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. GRIsWoLD, of Abington, in the county of Luzerne and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Spring- Bottoms for Chairs, Carriage Seats, Sofas, Lounges, and Beds; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, makinga part of this specification, in Which- Figure 1 represents in perspective a frame having the springs applied thereto, and which may represent a sofa or lounge frame ora carriage seat or box, this representation conveying a full idea of the application of the springs to other frames. Fig. 2 represents a vertical transverse section through the frame and one ot' the springs, as shown in Fig. l.

Helical or spiral springs in the bottoms of chairs, seats, sofas, lounges, and beds act very well so long as the strain comes upon them in a vertical line; but whenever they become the leastskewed, which they invariably do in a short time, their utility and that of the seat or other bottom Where used are entirely destroyed and become useless.

In bed-bottoms long slats of Wood, with springs connecting their ends with the rails or frame, have been used to good advantage; but it requires much skill and ingenuity to dispose ot' the excess in length when the slats and springs are brought down from an arc to or near to a chord to that arc.

Loose spring-plates have been used for the bottoms of chairs and other seats. They are too heavy for ordinary use, and cannot have that convex rounded form so necessary and universal in chair-seats, sofas, beds, and other furniture.

My invention consists in making a springbottom for chairs, carriage seats, sofas, lounges, and beds by using a series of bar or strip springs, one of the ends of which is fastened to the frame and the other set of ends is free to move out as any superincumbent Weight comes upon them, but restrained from rising too high when the weight is removed from them.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe the same with reference to the drawings.

A represents a frame of any suitable size, shape, and material, on which a rod a, and a rod c may be fastened in any ordinary Way.

e e e e are a series of strip-springs that are curved to suit the curve or vconveXity of the seat, sofa, lounge, or bed to which they are to be applied. One of the ends of each of these springs has a loop or eye f formed on it, by which they are held to the rod et. The other ends are turned down to form a hook or catch t', that catches under the rod c, and thus pre vents the spring from rising beyond a given point or descending below a given point. Thesesprings may have more curve put into them when made than they have after they are applied to the frame or rods, so that their contraction will keep their hooked ends always in contact with their rod and insure the catch` ing upon it when they are relieved of their load or when overloaded. That the hooked ends of the springs may be free to move out or away from their rod by the Weight of the person using the seat, bed, or lounge, the

frame must be so formed, as at g, as to admit of their movement. The springs may be laced or stayed with straps, tapes, or cords to keep them in proper place, and covered in any suitable way, or upholstered, as may be fancied or found desirable. In ordinary bottoms these springs may runcrosswise of the frame; but for bed-botto1ns they should run length- Wise, and in this connection, instead of their being made entirely of metal, which might make them heavy, strips of Wood of a strong or springy nature may be used for the middle portions of the slats and springs of metal at their ends only. In all cases, however, one end of each spring should be fastened and theother end loose. There are various Ways by which these springs may be fastened or tied to one side of the frame and allowed end-play at the other side of the frame. I have shown one simple and 'cheap way, which is deemed as suflicient to illustrate the invention and application of it to practical use. The free ends of the springs always rest vertically upon their rod or support pressing thereon, so that when they recoil or react their bent or hooked ends Will be sure to catch upon said rod or support. Should the springs be weighty forezu'rying heavy loads, orso that the friction of their free ends upon cheil1 supports or fastenings Should become material, frietion-rollsmay be strung upon the rod or support to allow said ends to run free when yielding to the Weight orl the removal of the Weight. The space into which the free ends of the springs move may be concealed by the frame orits coverings, so as not to be seen, and by moving one or both of the rods the eonvexity of the seat, &c., may be altered.

Witnesses:

p JAMES FREAR,

DAVIS RUSSEL. 

